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The Big E brings Bello to its 17 days of fun!

The Big E brings Bello to its 17 days of fun!

Bello Nock is giving audiences a unique experience under the Big Top at The Big E.

From September 14 – 30, 2018, the Big E Circus Spectacular, sponsored by Coca-Cola, is a show you won’t want to miss. Bello Nock, the charismatic comedian and America’s Got Talent Season 12 quarterfinalist, joins the cast under The Big Top, dazzling the crowds with his daredevil tricks on the whirling Wheel of Destiny. It's also an opportunity to see his daughter, Annaliese, on the same stage. #daredaughter wowed audiences on America’s Got Talent when she emerged unscathed after being locked in a wooden box that was rocked by six sticks of dynamite. In 2016, she set a Guinness Book of World Records as the first woman to perform four somersaults inside a spinning wheel of death.

TIME Magazine included Bello Nock in their list of “America’s best artists and entertainers”, “BelloBration” played to sold out crowds in Madison Square Garden (with attendance records for a family show that have still never been broken) and his first self-produced theater show was nominated for a prestigious Drama Desk Award.

Bello’s awards and accolades are too many to mention, his resume and repetoire to vast to describe, but it’s how he makes his audience feel that defines him. Young or old, Bello always provides his audience with the gift of laughter and inspiration. His energy and charisma is infectious.

At the Big E circus, he not only plays for laughs, he also performs along with his daughter Annaliese on "The Wheel of Death," the apparatus that had the judges on America's Got Talent screeching. Even Simon Cowell heaped praise on Bello's performance.

The Eastern States Exposition, lovingly known as The Big E, is the largest fair in the Northeast and gives fairgoers 17 fun-filled days. The Big E Circus Spectacular is one of the hundreds of free events at the fairgrounds located in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Ringmaster extraordinaire Billy Martin will take the helm as he presents and oversees this year’s circus. Also appearing this year is The Flying Cortes, a troupe of aerial athletes on the flying trapeze who dare to show off the legendary triple Somersault; Hog Diggity Dog Revue, a series hilarious stunts performed by clever canines and precious pigs; Ivan Arestov, master of the cirque-style CYR Wheel; and The King Charles Troupe, made up of energetic athletes in a friendly game of basketball on unicycles.

New this year at the Big Top, Eastern States Exposition welcomes the Comedy Event, WET GOODS. Featuring Dylan Brown and Olivia DiLauro, this theatrical comedy follows the life of a grocery store owner’s son who wreaks havoc on his employees while chasing his dream of competing on American Ninja Warrior. Catch the show Saturday, Sept. 22 at 9pm.

The Big E is one of our favorite events in the Northeast. I have attended the fair nearly every year of my life and definitely have my favorite things to see.

Most of the shows come free with the daily $15 admission, including the Circus Spectacular and musical acts that this year include fan favorites The Marshall Tucker Band, B.B. King’s Blues Band featuring Tito Jackson, Ice-T, The Beach Boys, Tony Orlando, and Jefferson Starship. From Sept. 26 - 30, DAN AKYROYD, JUDITH BELUSHI & Musical Director PAUL SHAFFER present “THE OFFICIAL BLUES BROTHERS™ REVUE,” for three shows at 11am, 1 & 6pm. These are just a selection of the performers. For a full list, visit https://www.thebige.com/p/entertainment/concerts

And you can't forget the Midway. Nighttime at the Big E is a magical time. The rides light up the sky over the fairgrounds. It might not be Six Flags, but the rides are flashy with names like Zipper, Power Surge, Blitzer, Fireball, and Orbitor. When you have been going as long as I have, you have your favorites, and they always deliver the thrills you hope for.

For those looking for more natural entertainment, take a seat in the grandstands of the Coliseum to watch elegant horses trot, canter and gallop toward first place in the Eastern States Exposition Horse Show, a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Heritage Competition, sponsored by Williams Distributing. Shows include: The Hunter Show and USHJA Zone 1 HOTY Finals, Sept. 12-16; $15,000 Hunter Classic, Sept. 14; and Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Morgans, Friesians, and Opportunity Classes, Sept. 20-23. The Big E Draft Horse Show will be Sept. 27-30, featuring the $35,000 SixHorse Hitch Showdown, the Haflinger and Hitch Pony Finals and the North American Classic Cart Series Championships, Sept. 30. Special performances include: World renowned horse trainer and performer Guy McLean, Sept. 27-30; the Northeast Six Shooters, Sept. 25; and The 4-H Horse Show, Sept. 19-22. The Eastern States Exposition Horse Show was granted the USEF Heritage Competition Designation on July 1, 2016. This prestigious designation places the show with an elite group of Federation licensed competitions that have been established for a long period of time and have made substantial contributions toward the development and promotion of the sport.

Storrowton Village Museum is a reconstructed, 19th century New England Village surrounding a peaceful green. During the Fair, it will be bustling with activity, such as demonstrations of candle dipping, tinsmithing, chair making and pottery. There will also be antique tool demonstrations, children’s games on the green and tours of historic buildings.

Only at The Big E can you step into all six New England States without leaving the fairgrounds. The Avenue of States offers only the best of each state – music, food, literature, art, architecture and more. The uniqueness of each building makes the Avenue one of the most popular attractions at the Fair every year. The Avenue celebrates the fall season on Harvest New England Day, Sept. 28 from 10am - 7pm. Lawns of each state buildings will brim with native products and specialty vendors. Play the “Passport” game while exploring the buildings to add more fun to your agenda! Participants need to get their Passport stamped in all six state buildings and report back to the registration tent before 5pm for the chance to win special prizes.

At The Big E, it’s all about food. Sink your teeth into one of our signature desserts, The Big E Cream Puff and Big Éclair, or experience The Big E Craz-E Burger! Craving something specific? The Donut Family on Commonwealth Ave will serve Cinn-a-Roll Gourmet Mini Donuts, covered with cinnamon cream cheese drizzled with sugar glaze topped with homemade whipped cream. Poutine Gourmet at Gate 7 (next to the Circus) will offer two new Poutines -- Pulled Pork and Ground Sirloin and Corn. Chompers, outside Door 8 of Better Living Center, newest menu item is Taco Chompers. These crunchy balls of seasoned beef and cheddar cheese with a crispy tortilla coating and served with salsa and sour cream sides was highlighted on an episode of Food Network’s Carnival Eats. The Deep South Company on Industrial Avenue will have Deep-Fried Corn on the Cob, an ear of corn dipped in buttermilk, lightly dusted with creole seasoning and fish fry batter then deep fried golden brown.

Don't count calories while at the Big E. It's not allowed. But don't fret (if you must), there are a large selection of Vegan and Gluten free options like Dr. Vegetable’s menu offering a Veggie Combo that can be served unfried to make it gluten-friendly. The Garden Restaurant’s menu has gluten-friendly dishes like Chicken Sixty Five, Saag Paneer, Chana Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala, Hyderabadi Biryani, and Native Roasted Corn. And let's not forget desert. Dippin Dots’ and Moolicious' menus feature a number of ice creams that are gluten free, including cones, sundaes and milkshakes.

If you have a passion for the arts, visit the New England Center to see the display of entries and winners from the Exposition’s annual Creative Arts contests – photography, quilting, knitting, pottery, beading, decorative paintings on fabric, hand weaving and other needlework entries and winners. It is one of my secret pleasures. I always enter the photographic contest and this year have two images on display from last year's Killington Cup, the East Coast's only stop for World Cup skiing. It's also the first time that I have ever had my daughter join me in a display of artwork. Her picture of Brad Paisley's concert in Toronto is on display as well!